Seedless CONCLUSION Technological developments can raise opportunities and concerns that warrant policy response.

Concerns may deal with various fields of expertise and different ministries may have to be involved in the analysis. The GURTs case illustrates that a technological development is likely to have a significant impact on a variety of issues, such as concentration in the seed industry, the public research system, the technology gap between commercial and marginal farmers, agro-biodiversity, etc. Opportunities to cope with the concerns fall within the competence of various organisations, which may be assisted or restricted by international treaties. A close contact between researchers and policy makers is needed for a timely identification of scientific developments that may have considerable effects on society. Also the subsequent analysis requires input from both technical and social scientists. International organisations, both intergovernmental and non-governmental, can play an important role in identification and analysis. It has to be stressed though that policies have to respond to local situations and a balancing of the opportunities and concerns at the national level, using instruments that are available in national law and institutions.